Shloka 86

The Greatness of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya) and Avimukta’s Liberative Power

Devanagari script

वरणास्योस्तु जाह्नव्याः संगमे लोकविश्रुते । दत्वाश्वं च विधानेन स भूयोऽपि न जायते ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

varaṇāsyostu jāhnavyāḥ saṃgame lokaviśrute | datvāśvaṃ ca vidhānena sa bhūyo'pi na jāyate || 86 ||

Translation

Tại nơi hợp lưu lừng danh của sông Varāṇā và Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā), ai bố thí một con ngựa đúng nghi thức sẽ không còn tái sinh nữa.

Word by Word

• वरणास्योः: of/at Varaṇā and Asī (rivers)
• वरणास्योः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरणा-अस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (वरणा च अस्य च); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (नदी-नाम), षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचन-रूप; Dual in genitive/locative sense: 'of/at (the rivers) Varaṇā and Asī'

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/विशेषार्थ

• जाह्नव्याः: of Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā)
• जाह्नव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाह्नवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Genitive, Singular (of the Gaṅgā)

• संगमे: at the confluence
• संगमे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Locative, Singular

• लोकविश्रुते: renowned in the world
• लोकविश्रुते: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक-विश्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (लोके विश्रुतः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Locative, Singular (agreeing with संगमे)

• दत्वा: having given
• दत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); Absolutive: 'having given'

• अश्वम्: a horse
• अश्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विधानेन: by the prescribed procedure
• विधानेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भूयः: again
• भूयः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस्/भूयः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि = 'also/even'

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative, 3rd person, singular (middle)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Jahnavi (Ganga)
• Varana (river)
• Varanasi (Kashi)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It exalts the Varāṇā–Gaṅgā confluence as a powerful tīrtha where properly performed dāna (charity) can yield mokṣa—freedom from rebirth.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Though framed as a tīrtha-dāna result, the emphasis on performing the act “vidhānena” implies reverent, faith-filled offering—an outer expression aligned with bhakti and surrender at a sacred place.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to ritual injunctions (kalpa/vidhi): the merit depends on performing the donation according to prescribed procedure (vidhāna), not merely on the material gift.